Bag frame



March 23,v 1937. c. HQERING 2,074,843

BAG FRAME FiledfNoV. 29, 1935 INVENTOR n n :a

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 U N l T ESD S T-AT ES PATENT orti-:cle:l

BAGI FRAME Y Ware .Application Nocember .29, .1935, serialNo. 52,108

comms. (c1. 15o- 42) This 4invention l relates to-ihand bagarand `moreparticularly .to an automaticfself-closing :frame foruse in such bags.

Heretofore, it has been `necessary to provide 5 latches for holdinghandbag frame l"members together. The provision of latches obviouslyincreases the cost `of manufacturing the frames; and after a certainamount of use the latches become worn and loose and do not function-properly to hold the frame members in a closed position. Clearlysuchafsituation is objectionable as it enables pickpockets v.and other`Vunauthorized persons to surreptitiously open the hand bags. Also,theuser of thebag is always apprehensive l5 0ft losing the contentsthereof due to a faulty la ch.

It is an object of this .invention to provide a frame for hand bagswhich is so constructed that it is automatically self-closing andrequires no 20 latches.

A further object is the provision of an automatically self-closing framefor hand bags which is of simple construction, positive in operation,requiring'a relative low cost of manufacture, and

25 which can be readily and conveniently provided in various ornamentalshapes.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, areaccomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of30 parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanyingdrawing, forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a frame embodying my invention in anopen position.

35 Fig, 2 is a top plan view of the frame when closed, v

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the frame,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view,

` partly in section,

40 Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the frame when in aclosed position, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a spring element used in amodified form of the invention.

45 Referring to the drawing, the frame is shown to comprise a rigidarcuate frame member formed from a metal strip 1 having at one edgethereo-f a right angularly directed flange bent back upon itself andbeyond the strip 1 to provide an oppo- 50 sitely directed flange 9 sothat the upper edge of the frame member is substantially T-shaped. Thelower edgel of the strip 1 is provided with a right angularly directedflange Ill having a plurality of spaced tabs I I, provided withweakening 55 apertures I2 to enable them to be conveniently bentupwardly to` clamp 'ftothe `frame member "a channeled inlay I3 to whichis attached thebag covering material I4.

The bag covering material is first clinched in the inlay I3 and then theinlayis inserted between the flanges 9 and I0 after which the tabs I I-arebent upwardly, as indicatedin Fig. 4.

Each end of thestrip 1 is provided with a bearing I5 formed yfrom aportion of the strip, and the anges 8 andll extend beyond the end of'themain bodyof the strip 1, said flanges-being provided withzaperturesregistering with the `bearings I5.

Positioned between the flanges 8 and 9 and the bearing I5 is a bearingI6 integral with a flat spring strip- I1. Pins I8 pass through thebearings I6 and I5 and pivotally connect the flap spring strip I1 to therigid arcuate frame member having the strip 1. Bag covering material issmoothly attached t0 the spring strip I1 which comprises a frame membercooperating with the arcuate rigid frame member. The spring strip I1 issubstantially the same length as the arcuate strip 1.

In operation, the spring strip I1 normally tends to assume a straightposition, and when it is drawn to either side of the line connecting theends of the arcuate rigid frame member having the strip 1, it willremainin the position to which it is drawn until an appreciable force isapplied to again move it to the other side of the line joining the endsof the strip 1. It will be noted that the strip I1 is of subsantiallythe same length as the strip 1 and when the bag is in a closed position,as shown in Fig. 2, the spring strip I1 forceably engages and litssnugly against the strip 1. When in an open position, as shown in Fig.1, the spring strip I1 naturally tends to remain in a position tomaintain the hand bag open.

From the above description it will be seen that a hand bag embodying aframe member as above described must either be fully opened or tightlyclosed, as the spring strip I1 will not permit of an intermediateposition such as a partly open hand bag or a loosely closed bag. It is,therefore, apparent that there is no possibility of a hand bag beingsurreptitiously opened without some sort of a warning signal being givento the person carrying the bag, as an appreciable force is required tomove the spring strip I1 from a closed positon, whereby it tightlyengages the rigid strip 1, to an open position as shown in Fig. l.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modied form of the invention in which the springstrip 21 is provided with a longitudinal slot 28 along the center linethereof which enables the spring strip 2l to be moved to an open orclosed position with somewhat less force than is necessary with thespring strip I1.

A hand bag provided with a frame as herein described obviously requiresno latches and may be conveniently closed with a minimum of effort; infact the closing of the bag is automatic. Also, the arcuate shape of theframe member when closed lends itself to a variety of ornamentationswhich is of considerable importance in the sale of hand bags to thepublic.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive andillustrative only, and not as re strictive or limitative of theinvention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed includingmany modifications, without departing from the general scope hereinindicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a hand bag frame, a rigid arcuate metal strip forming a member ofthe frame, a channeled inlay having bag covering material attachedthereto, means on one edge of the metal strip for holding the channeledinlay in position on said member, and a, spring strip of substantiallythe same length as said rigid arcuate strip, said spring strip havingits ends pivotally connected to the ends of the arcuate strip, saidspring strip having a slot extending along the longitudinal center linethereof to points short of the ends of the strip.

2. In a hand bag frame, a frame member comprising a rigid arcuate metalstrip having at one edge thereof an inwardly directed right angular angebent back upon itself to provide an outwardly directed right angularflange, so that said member is substantially T-shaped in cross section,a plurality of spaced tabs attached to the lower edge of said strip,said tabs being bendable upwardly to clamp bag covering material to thestrip, and a spring strip having its ends pivotally connected to theends of the arcuate strip, said spring strip being of substantially thesame length as the arcuate strip, said spring strip having a slotextending along the longitudinal center line thereof, to points short ofthe en-ds of the strip.

3. In a hand bag frame, a frame member comprising a rigid arcuate metalstrip having at one edge thereof an inwardly directed right angularflange bent back upon itself to provide an outwardly directed rightangular flange so that said member is substantially T-shaped in crosssection, said inwardly directed right angular flange extending beyondthe ends of said strip, a plurality of spaced tabs on the lower edge ofsaid strip, said tabs being bendable upwardly, the ends of saidstrip'being cut and bent to form hinge members, a spring strip havingits ends cut and bent to form hinge members cooperating with the hingemembers on the arcuate strip, said spring strip being of substantiallythe same length as the arcuate strip, andV hinge pins passing throughsaid hinge members and the ends of the inwardly directed right angularflange.

v WILLIAM C. HIERING.

